Best/Quickest Route to Mille Lacs

  • wade_kuehl
    Northwest Iowa
    Posts: 6167
    #1247319

    I need a little help here guys. I’m making a trip to Mille Lacs this Fall, coming from Sioux City, Iowa. Looking at the map it seems there are a few options I could take and I’m looking for some opinions since I don’t travel these roads.

    It looks like I could go up Hwy 75 to Pipestone and then take Hwy 23 to 169N.

    I could take Hwy 60 then head north on either Hwy 71, Hwy 15, or 169N.

    I’ll most likely be driving up on a Wednesday morning and I don’t care about a scenic drive or anything other than getting there quick and easy.

    Anybody have any ideas for me?

    Thanks!

    Arzie
    East Bethel, Minnesota
    Posts: 426
    #380390

    what ever you do, don’t ask Kista88 for directions!!!

    jon_jordan
    St. Paul, Mn
    Posts: 10908
    #380391

    Where do you want to end up?

    kooty
    Keymaster
    1 hour 15 mins to the Pond
    Posts: 18101
    #380395

    Wade,

    Depending on where you are staying on the lake this is my suggestion.

    When I travel to Sioux Falls, I take 90 East to Worthington, jump on Hwy 60 north here. Follow to 169N to the cities. Now depending on what side of the lake you are staying on this gets tricky. I’m staying on the west side so:
    Take 494 West off 169. Stay on 494W, it will turn into 494N, Then it will turn into 94W. Take 101N off 94. Stay on 101N until it turns back into 169N. Stay on 169 until you hit the lake. This is the shortest route when heading to the west side of the lake(in my humble opinion).

    wade_kuehl
    Northwest Iowa
    Posts: 6167
    #380396

    Quote:


    Where do you want to end up?


    Hopefully on top off a very hungry school of eyes!

    Actually Jon, I am not sure yet. I’ll be meeting James Wednesday, Oct. 14th but we have not set a time and place yet. I haven’t decided on a place to stay yet (well, I haven’t even researched that yet). Maybe I should figure out where I’ll be staying first??? I would think it’ll be either close to Garrison or Cove but I’m not sure yet.

    Thanks!

    By the way, are you going to be on the lake that week?

    Bob Carlson
    Mille Lacs Lake (eastside), Mn.
    Posts: 2936
    #380397

    Quote:


    Wade,

    Depending on where you are staying on the lake this is my suggestion.

    When I travel to Sioux Falls, I take 90 East to Worthington, jump on Hwy 60 north here. Follow to 169N to the cities. Now depending on what side of the lake you are staying on this gets tricky. I’m staying on the west side so:
    Take 494 West off 169. Stay on 494W, it will turn into 494N, Then it will turn into 94W. Take 101N off 94. Stay on 101N until it turns back into 169N. Stay on 169 until you hit the lake. This is the shortest route when heading to the west side of the lake(in my humble opinion).


    Wade, you best follow Kooty’s directions! I hope we can meet up when you make your trip! Maybe have a late breakfest after you get off the water………..Blue Goose has great breakfest’s!

    wade_kuehl
    Northwest Iowa
    Posts: 6167
    #380398

    Quote:


    Wade,

    Depending on where you are staying on the lake this is my suggestion.

    When I travel to Sioux Falls, I take 90 East to Worthington, jump on Hwy 60 north here. Follow to 169N to the cities. Now depending on what side of the lake you are staying on this gets tricky. I’m staying on the west side so:
    Take 494 West off 169. Stay on 494W, it will turn into 494N, Then it will turn into 94W. Take 101N off 94. Stay on 101N until it turns back into 169N. Stay on 169 until you hit the lake. This is the shortest route when heading to the west side of the lake(in my humble opinion).


    Thanks John! I’ll factor that in. I think I’ll be on the West side, NW or SW most likely. And I’ll be seeing YOU at the boat ramp on one of those nights!

    wade_kuehl
    Northwest Iowa
    Posts: 6167
    #380400

    Quote:


    Wade, you best follow Kooty’s directions! I hope we can meet up when you make your trip! Maybe have a late breakfest after you get off the water………..Blue Goose has great breakfest’s!


    Bobber, You got it! Some good food, a few beers, a little FRIENDLY poker, and maybe we’ll get some fishing in too! I can’t wait! I’m going to try to stay for 3-4 days so maybe we can even get on the water together once. We can show Hooks how to get the net!

    shew
    East Bethel, Minnesota
    Posts: 696
    #380410

    Quote:


    what ever you do, don’t ask Kista88 for directions!!!


    birddog
    Mn.
    Posts: 1957
    #380424

    My sis used to live out that way…coming from iowa, 60E-169N-494w-94w-101N-169N. Time your trip so that your not coming through the TC at rush hour if at all possible. You don’t want to be heading N through the TC during the evening rush! IT’S BRUTAL, especially around the 94-101 change. If you leave your place early morning you should have smooth sailing.

    BIRDDOG

    chris-tuckner
    Hastings/Isle MN
    Posts: 12318
    #380434

    If the rush hour is unavoidable, I would hit Hwy. 52 and head straight up the gut to 94 West, go 1/4 mile to 35E north. Stay on 35 north to the Finlayson (Hwy 18 West) exit, and 18 will dead end at the East side of Mille Lacs just south of Flagship.
    The 169 route is probably staighter, but the 94/101 interchange can be a traffic ballbuster!

    I will see you up there to Wade! I’ll be up there all that week.
    Tuck

    Don Hanson
    Posts: 2073
    #380449

    60 to 71 to 23 to 169 avoid going through the cities.

    Fife
    Ramsey, MN
    Posts: 4058
    #380459

    I second Don’s idea. I go to school in Marshall and I have made the drive straight to Mille Lacs a couple times. The traffic in St. Cloud can get heavy, but it shouldn’t be too bad. HWY 23 has been expanded in a lot of places so you can go 65.

    Calvin Svihel
    Moderator
    Northwest Metro, MN
    Posts: 3862
    #380462

    The only downfall with taking Hwy 23 is going through St. Cloud. I really depends when you leave Wade, if you leave in the am you should be fine no matter which route you take. Hope to see ya at the ramps, shake your hand for all the help with electronics you have given me! Thanks again

    wade_kuehl
    Northwest Iowa
    Posts: 6167
    #380477

    Quote:


    I will see you up there to Wade! I’ll be up there all that week.
    Tuck


    Thanks Chris! I’m looking forward to it!

    Redddave
    Posts: 29
    #380488

    I cannot comment on the early part of your route but I can on the second. I live in Princeton and drive to a friends house just south of Watertown SD. I would avoid the TC like the plague. North on 94 can get bad and 101 has like 5 stop lights and thats before you get to Elk River which has 4 more. Takeing 23 to St Cloud would be the better option. Even when I have driven in St Clouds rush hour it was not as bad as 101 and Elk River. Once you get out of St Cloud you can shoot all the way up 23 but you will have to go thru Foley, Foreston and Milaca. If you don’t like slowing down for small towns, take 95 to Princton it has one 4 way stop and that is it. It will hit 169 before you get into town and then just zip up 169.

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    #380499

    Wade,

    We’ll be meeting in Garrison – NW corner of the lake.

    Brian Hoffies
    Land of 10,000 taxes, potholes & the politically correct.
    Posts: 6843
    #380516

    Wade,
    Take 94 to Hwy 101 to Hwy 169 as others have said.
    The only pitfall will be that the new mega Cabela’s in Rogers may be open at that time.
    For lodging there is a Garrison Suites motel right next to the Blue Goose.
    For entertainment you can watch people bounce off the rocks at the Garrison public landing if the bouy’s are off.

    wade_kuehl
    Northwest Iowa
    Posts: 6167
    #380522

    Quote:


    The only downfall with taking Hwy 23 is going through St. Cloud. I really depends when you leave Wade, if you leave in the am you should be fine no matter which route you take. Hope to see ya at the ramps, shake your hand for all the help with electronics you have given me! Thanks again


    Cal, I am looking forward to it bud. Hopefully will meet up. I’m sure we’ll have a few discussions here before we head up.

    wade_kuehl
    Northwest Iowa
    Posts: 6167
    #380523

    Thanks to everyone who posted their ideas. I really appreciate it! I hope to see you all on the pond.

    birddog
    Mn.
    Posts: 1957
    #380524

    “For entertainment you can watch people bounce off the rocks at the Garrison public landing if the bouy’s are off.”

    That one gets me every time, with or without the bouys! <the look on my face EVERY TIME!

    BIRDDOG

    Dave Koonce
    Moderator
    Prairie du Chien Wi.
    Posts: 6946
    #380596

    Hey Wade,

    I’ll be leaving PdC on the 14th also..headding up to Mille Lacs for 5 nights of fishing !!!I sure hope to see you up there !!

    chomps
    Sioux City IA
    Posts: 3974
    #380751

    Wade, not too much on posting, but I had sent you a PM, did it make it? I travel up to the big pond several times a year, will sure be nice when the entire road to MN. is 4 lanes, will surely cut 1/2 hour off our diving time to add to our on the water time.

    wade_kuehl
    Northwest Iowa
    Posts: 6167
    #388845

    Well, plans are pretty well set. I’m heading out of Sioux City early Wed. (12th) and will be staying at Twin Pines on the West side. Does anyone know of any significant road construction on any of the routes above? I want to avoid any detours if possible.

    Thanks again for all the help. I hope to meet a few of you while I’m in the area.

    kooty
    Keymaster
    1 hour 15 mins to the Pond
    Posts: 18101
    #388846

    See you Friday!!

    wade_kuehl
    Northwest Iowa
    Posts: 6167
    #388859

    You betcha Kooty!

    Looks like we’re going to have very light winds and the temps don’t look too bad either!

    Wed
    Oct 12 Few Showers
    59°/45° 30%
    59°F

    Thu
    Oct 13 Showers
    59°/44° 50%
    59°F

    Fri
    Oct 14 Mostly Sunny
    59°/42° 20%
    59°F

    Sat
    Oct 15 Partly Cloudy
    61°/41° 10%
    61°F

    Sun
    Oct 16 Few Showers
    52°/35° 30%
    52°F

    sliderfishn
    Blaine, MN
    Posts: 5432
    #388861

    Quote:


    Looks like we’re going to have very light winds and the temps don’t look too bad either!


    I hate to be the bearer of bad news BUT are the weather people ever right.

    Good luck to everyone this coming weekend. I would be there but got a dog that needs to earn his keep this weekend by pointing pheasants for me

    Ron

    sgt._rock
    Rochester, MN
    Posts: 2517
    #388891

    Wade: Here is a link to road destruction for you.

    web page

    wade_kuehl
    Northwest Iowa
    Posts: 6167
    #388922

    Quote:


    I hate to be the bearer of bad news BUT are the weather people ever right.


    Ron, I’m sure the weather will be exactly as they predict!

    Brian, Thanks for the link. I forgot that you can check online now.

    Two more days!!

Viewing 30 posts - 1 through 30 (of 30 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.